The islands of the Caribbean boast of some of the most alluring getaways than any other place on the planet. Travelers who have been fortunate enough to visit these parts have simply raved about the grand beaches, vivid colonial architecture and postcard-perfect scenery that has made the Caribbean a great base for holidaymakers.To assist you in locating the right island for your type of vacation, a list of the ten top destinations in the Caribbean has been given here. These are based on industry experts recommendations and feedback from frequent visitors to guide you to your ideal sandy retreat.
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Top 10 Destinations in the Caribbean
1) Curacao
A fascinating underwater world comprising of coral gardens, stunning marine life and sunken ships await the visitor to the warm waters of Curacao. If you get tired of the water, head to Willemstad to see the Queen Emma Bridge and visit the fascinating museum of Kura Hulanda.
2) Puerto Rico
Ranging from the adventurous to the historic, the attractions of Puerto Rico lie between these two extremes. Apart from the underground caves of Rio Camuy Cave Park and the ramparts of the 500-year-old El Morro fort, visitors can spend quality time at nightfall in the Mosquito Bay in Vieques to be mesmerized by the blue glow of the tiny microorganisms that live in these waters. Families and snorkelers can enjoy the Flamenco beach, said to be the most beautiful in Puerto Rico. Staying here is quite easy with the resorts in the Caribbean.
3) Jamaica
Jamaica is one Caribbean island which will never let you get bored. From hiking, diving or playing a round of golf at the picturesque Tryall Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica is the perfect base for active visitors. One can simply doze at the beach or do the climb to Dunn’s River Falls & Park to have a terrific outing. Take your family to the Seven Mile Beach at Negril to sunbathe and sip a drink from the laid-back bars after sunset.
4) Barbados
From sampling its world-famous rum at the historic St Nicholas Abbey to surfing at the Bathsheba Beach, Barbados is a paradise for outdoor activists. Another attraction here which is extremely popular is the Barbados Boardwalk, lying 4 miles south of Bridgetown. Golf courses, ancient homes, sports an abundance of wildlife and the famous Barbadian cave system await the discerning tourist to this lush green island.
5) The British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Wading between the granite rocks and the colorful coves of The Baths in Virgin Gorda is said to be an experience of a lifetime for any visitor to the British Virgin Islands.This popular cruise ship destination has a plethora of activities which include, island hopping and some great diving sites like the RMS Rhone. The sandy jewels of Anegada and Cane Garden Bay are also a great draw with tourists.
6) Guadeloupe
Tucked between some of the most verdant mountain landscapes, the Guadeloupe National Park is without a doubt the number one tourist attraction of the sunny island of Guadeloupe. The unspoilt scenery, quaint chateaus dot some of the captivating islands that have been known to have even left the noted explorer Christopher Columbus overawed. The centuries-old plantations and distilleries produce some of the finest rum in the Caribbean here in Guadeloupe.
7) Grenada, Caribbean
The soft white sands of the popular Grand Anse Beach in Grenada are comparable with some of the best on any of the islands of the Caribbean.The streets of St George have been likened to a colorful oil painting because of the tastefully colored houses. The harbor, on the south-west shore, is considered to be the most beautiful in the Caribbean, while the oldest distillery in Grenada has been producing tongue tickling rum since 1785.
8) Punta Cana
The signature Punta Espada golf course is said to be the most stunning, not only in Punta Cana, but probably the whole of Caribbean. Having said that, there are other impressive golfing venues where a vacationer can perfect their swings.The vibrant atmosphere of the Punta Cana cave disco will draw you into the premises with its pounding beats. A trip to Manati island for birds and Dolphin island for marine life are highly recommended.
9) Turks and Caicos
Sun, sand and ultimate relaxation are what the islands of Turks and Caicos are most known for, especially on Providenciales. This archipelago of 40 low lying coral islands attracts holiday enthusiasts travel in large numbers to Grace Bay, Taylor Bay, Bright Reef and Smith’s Reef for beaches and scuba diving. The near-perfect weather makes the Turks and Caicos an ideal place to try a round of golf at the Provo Golf Club. Though sparsely populated and off most tourist radars, the Turks and Caicos have been transformed into a real luxury tourist destination. Life is extremely easy-paced the locals warm and friendly and diving sites really out of the ordinary.
10) US Virgin Islands
With two-third area of US Virgin Islands a designated parkland, you are hardly a few steps away from nature at all times here. The Virgin Islands National Park and other top attractions like Annaberg Plantation, Trunk and Caneel Bay are all within easy reach of each other. Despite a large number of visitors, the beaches here have managed to retain their rustic charm and serenity. It is unlikely that one can find any beach in the whole Caribbean with pearl white sands and aquamarine waters than the beaches of US Virgin Islands.
This Post is authored by Jyotsana Ramani. Jo as she is called, is a passionate globetrotter, wildlife enthusiast, thrill seeker and writer. She can be found on her blog - Wander with Jo
Ami.. such lovely destinations… Hear so much about caribbean destinations, especially West Indies!!!! Hope I am able to make it some day here 🙂
Thanks Ramya. I hope I get to go too.
Great blog and the pictures are just perfect. Thanks for sharing
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
Nice Blog. Thanks for your valuable information. Keep writing.
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
Guadaloupe and Puerto Rico are certainly on my wish list for world. tour. I;d love to hangout with dolphins sometime!
I hope you get there soon. They sure are beautiful. Thanks for stopping by
As an American the Caribbean is one of my favorite locations to travel to. I’m especially partial the the US Virgin islands and Puerto Rico but would love to explore Curacao and Grenada.
I can see why these are your favorites. I hope I can visit them soon.
We’ve still haven’t visited the Caribbean yet but that’s due to change. Mrs W is lucky enough to be visiting Grenada next month on a press trip but unfortunately I will have to wait until another time. I hope she brings some of that tongue tingling rum back.
I hope she does get that rum back and also, that you get to visit it soon. Thanks for stopping by
Dolphins and diving take precedence so i would definintely opt for those two. I love the beach and everything about water around so I’m looking forward to this a lot. I would love to explore each them in depth.
I guess you will get there sooner than me. Fingers crossed for that. Cheers.
We are on an adventure to see every state in America and as we get closer to seeing them all we discuss what to do afterwards. My daughter suggested we visit the US territories. Puerto Rico is somewhere that I am now looking into visiting and your description makes me think it is definitely worth visiting.
Thanks Chris. I am hoping to get there myself and discover more. Guess you might get there first. Cheers
I don’t know which one to choose! I’ve got some friends looking for a place for their honey-moon and I suggested the Bahamas which unfortunately did not make it to your list. I think I would personally pick Punta Cana from the ones you mention. I’ve heard great things about it!
Thanks. I am sure that Punta Cana will be awesome. I too, have been hearing a lot about it.
I love the warm waters and snorkeling opportunities of the Caribbean. We lived in Martinique for a year, which is also in the Caribbean, and I would go back in a second. So beautiful. I’d love to go to any of these islands and spend some time.
I would definitely like to explore the waters by snorkeling or scuba here. One of the main reasons, why they are high on my list too. Thanks for stopping by
Never been to that part of the world, but after reading your post I realise I know so little about it! Yes, the famous ones are well-known, but there seems to be some lesser known wonders too in Caribbean…someday I will live the Caribbean dream too 🙂
Amen to that dream and I hope I get to go too. Cheers
As I kept scrolling down each destination kept looking better than the other. A part of the world I am totally ignorant of. Hopefully I can visit some day and take my own pics.
I hope that i can go to at least one of these too. Thanks for stopping by Indrani.
There you go, confusing me again, haha. I have been looking for Caribbean cruises but all these islands that I want to visit do not get covered by one single cruise. I really want to visit Puerto Rico, Barbados, Turks & Caicos and Punta Cana but there’s no cruise that does all of them. Your pictures are so lovely, inspirational!
I hope to at least visit one of these too. They look awesome, don’t they. Envy the people who have visited them.
The place is picturesque and the pictures really amazing 🙂
Thanks Shweta.
It is weird. How you start reading about a place, it keeps popping back at you. So is with the Caribbeans. In the last 24 hours I have read 6 articles on the place. I think it is a sign! Awesome clicks. I think each of them is better than the other. A great compilation.
Thanks Vasu. Maybe it is a sign! 🙂 Cheers.
The Caribbean was first introduced into my life with cricket. Always associated with the likes of Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados with cricket. But the Caribbean is such a paradise on earth. It seems to be doubly blessed with nature. The spirit of the Caribbean is really heady and oozes from all these places. But Jamaica and Barbados look really enticing.
True, there is so much to Caribbean than what we know from Cricket. I am myself, in awe of the landscape here. Hope we can get there some day.
nice article… keep sharing this type of article…..
Thank you. Glad you liked it
You’ve reminded me that you don’t need to fly to the far side of the world to experience stunning beach destinations. As an American, I’ve always overlooked the Caribbean for my travels, instead heading to destinations in SE Asia. Might be time to book a 4 hour versus 14 hour flight and check out one of these stunning locations.
Most of us are guilty of missing our backyard. 🙂 Me included. Hope you can remedy that
This is Quite a list, and I think you shared the great content to experience us about the Caribbean, I love the Visuals and I would love to travel. I wasn’t aware the Caribbean can be such a great travel destination.
Oh yes, there is just so much to do in Caribbean. Hoping to be able to get there soon myself
Wow! I have not been to any of those destinations and want to visit them all! Not even sure where to start, I guess by where I can best the deal. Although, the pictures of the dolphins in Punta Cana is the most tempting for me. Soooo many options!
I know…I so so want to get there myself.